Tetrarch tank
Encyclopedia : T : TE : TET : Tetrarch tank
 Tank, Light Mk VII, Tetrarch I
| |
| Tank, Light Mk VII, Tetrarch I General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Length | m |
| Width | 2.31 m |
| Height | 2.10 m |
| Weight | t |
| Suspension | coil spring |
| Speed | 40 mph, km/h road 28 mph, km/h off-road |
| Range | 224 km |
| Primary armament | 40 mm 2 pounder 50 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm Besa MG 2,025 rounds |
| Armour | 16 mm |
| Power plant | 165 horsepower>hp ( kW) |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) |
The Tank, Light Mk VII, Tetrarch I was a British light tank produced during the Second World War, initially for the reconnaissance role but later for use by airborne forces.
Contents
Development
- Prototype produced by Vickers-Armstrong in 1938.
- Production started in 1940.
- Production halted due to poor performance of light tanks in battle.
- Adopted for airborne forces 1941, production restarted.
- Given Tetrarch name in 1943
Design/characteristics
- Road wheels could be used with tracks removed for faster speed on roads.
- Skid steered by flexing tracks through moving road wheels.
- Turret design was later used on the Daimler Armoured Car
Combat history
- A small number were deployed during Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar in 1942.
- Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, 6th Airborne Division- landed by Hamilcar glider as part of Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944 on the River Orne
- Rhine crossing March 24, 1945.
- About twenty Tetrachs were supplied to the USSR, where they were photographed in training.
Variants
Tetrarch I CS
- Close support version: 3 in (76 mm) howitzer.
Tetrarch DD
- One Tetrarch was fitted and tested with a propeller drive and canvas collapsible flotation screens in June 1941 at Brent Reservoir. The test was a success and Straussler DD (Duplex Drive) was adopted for the Valentine and Sherman.
See also
External links
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